The Department of Agriculture (DA) issued implementing guidelines that will increase the adoption of hybrid rice seeds in the country to up to 40 percent under the National Rice Program (NRP).
The agency said the program is meant to achieve an average hybrid rice yield level of up to 6 tons per hectare (ha) in the wet season and up to 8 tons per ha in the dry season in target areas by 2028.
Under Memorandum Order No. 31 series of 2023 signed by Undersecretary Leocadio Sebastian on April 24, hybrid seed support will be provided in rice-producing cities and municipalities with good irrigation facilities and favorable rainfed areas preferably with the presence of clustered farmers such as irrigator associations (IAs), farmer cooperatives and associations (FCAs).
DA regional field offices will select top five hybrid varieties that have yielded at least 5 tons per ha and have a yield advantage of at least 1 ton per ha over certified inbred seeds within the region.
The order said yield data per hybrid variety from various sources including regional field trials, technology demonstration, techno forum, rice crop manager advisory services or local government data can also be used as the basis for hybrid seed procurement.
However, DA said clustered farmers who are members of IAs and FCAs are prioritized and only farmers who are listed in the Registry System for Basic Sectors in Agriculture (RSBSA) and are encoded in the Farmers and Fisherfolk Registry System are eligible to receive free hybrid seed from the project.
To maximize area planted for hybrid seeds, only farmers who are cultivating at least 1,000 square meters or more as declared in the RSBSA are also eligible to receive hybrid seeds.
Hybrid seeds which have been bred using two superior parents intentionally selected for their desired traits, yield a higher volume compared to inbred seeds.
However, some farmers still prefer inbred seeds over hybrid seeds as the latter is more expensive since it can adapt better to stress and disease.
